Smartphone texting integrated with a dealership’s website is the offering of TextUps.com, a recently-announced hang-tag lead system. A tool aimed at after-hours shoppers and those who don’t want to get out of their vehicles, TextUps.com is available in 22 states and offers dealers a new way to connect with prospective buyers. “When a shopper wants […] [Read More]

For all their fuel-saving power, hybrid vehicles can also present unique hazards to service technicians, and have specific upkeep requirements. These topics and others will be addressed in a hybrid clinic hosted by the Grappone Automotive Group, set for June 26 at its LEED-certified Toyota facility in Bow, N.H. Aimed at the group’s wholesale parts […] [Read More]

More — and more relevant — used-car information to simplify the buying process: That’s the aim of new technology from PureCars. On Wednesday, the company announced the launch of its all-new Value Intelligence Platform, or VIP. Using PureCars' proprietary algorithm, which pulls from more than 1 billion data points of reference, the platform organizes and […] [Read More]

Internet Brands, an online media and software services organization that includes such automotive players as CarsDirect, Chrome Data and Autodata Solutions, announced earlier this week that it will be purchased by global investment firm KKR. The two companies signed a definitive agreement in which KKR will purchase Internet Brands from Hellman & Friedman and JMI […] [Read More]

Digital marketing company Outsell launched a new buyer-detection product this week that works to keep dealers from missing out on new leads and potential repeat customers while also helping to gauge just how serious a shopper is about securing a new ride. BuyerScout actually alerts users when current customers and prospects are actively shopping for […] [Read More]

Automotive customer contact and marketing engagement provider ELEAD1ONE rolled out major expansions to its CRM mobile application on Tuesday. In order to upgrade its CRM mobile portal, the company added a vehicle identification scanner, driver’s license or photo ID scanner and mobile desking solution. ELEAD1ONE contends these upgrades will drastically increase the speed and accuracy […] [Read More]

Consumers, dealers and buyers have yet another way to connect with each other. AutoTrader.com announced Wednesday that shoppers can now utilize the Trade-in Marketplace when looking to sell their used vehicle from the convenience of their smartphones. AutoTrader.com has integrated the Trade-in Marketplace tool across all of its mobile properties. Users can now access the […] [Read More]

Years in development have paid off for vAuto, which this week announced the awarding of a patent for its system of inventory management for auto dealers. On Wednesday, the company noted receipt of U.S. Patent No. 8,589,212 by the United States Patent Office, for its Provision system that helps dealers determine which used vehicles will […] [Read More]

After launching in Atlanta last year, online auto retailer Carvana is going to the Music City for its next location. The company is opening a distribution center in Nashville, Tenn., its first one outside of Atlanta, kick-starting what Carvana called a “series of market expansions.” “We have experienced strong demand for online car sales stemming […] [Read More]

Kelley Blue Book announced this morning that it is launching range-based pricing for used-car values. This follows the range-based pricing for new-car values that KBB introduced in October. “As a result of in-depth consumer and dealer research, Kelley Blue Book’s new range-based used-car pricing is expected to alleviate some of the friction from the shopping […] [Read More]